Long-lasting effect of subliminal processes on cardiovascular responses and performance

Students were exposed to a priming task in which subliminal representations of the goal of studying were directly paired (priming-positive group) or not (priming group) to positive words. A control group without subliminal prime of the goal was added. Just after the priming task, students performed an easy or a difficult learning task based on their coursework. Participants in the priming-positive group performed better and had a stronger decrease of pulse transit time and pulse wave amplitude reactivity than participants of the two other groups, but only during the difficult condition. Results suggested that subliminal priming induces effortful behavior extending over twenty five minutes but only when the primes had been associated with visible positive words acting as a reward. These findings provide evidence that subliminal priming can have long-lasting effects on behaviors typical of daily life.

Research highlights
► Subliminal priming induces effortful behavior to learn coursework.
► The subliminal goal should be co-activated with positive words acting as a reward.
► Effort mobilization was related to α and β-adrenergic activity.
► Subliminal priming can have long-lasting effects on behaviors typical of daily life.